New solution to Pensacola Beach traffic? Engineers can now remotely control traffic lights.

Video of how Pensacola Beach traffic currently flows and how it will flow with a roundabout.
Teresa Zwierzchowski/tzwierz@pnj.com

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Escambia County has installed a traffic signal device at the intersection of Fort Pickens Road and Pensacola Beach Boulevard/Via de Luna at Pensacola Beach that allows engineers to remotely control the traffic signals.(Photo: Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com)Buy Photo

The cabinet was installed earlier this month at the busy intersection of Fort Pickens Road and Pensacola Beach Boulevard/Via de Luna.

David Forte, public works director for the county, said the technology will allow traffic engineers to monitor beach traffic flow from the county's offices in west Pensacola and change the signal timing remotely.

"The biggest improvement is the fact that we now can manipulate remotely the traffic signal operations and phases. If we are seeing a flush of people coming out (of the parking lot) at the same time, like during Bands on the Beach, we can change the signal," he said.

The remote technology will allow engineers to control both of the traffic signals in the beach's core area and the pedestrian crosswalk signals from the county offices, he said.

Forte said the county has installed similar technology in other busy traffic corridors, including Nine Mile Road and U.S. 29. More areas will be added in the coming months, he said.

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Escambia County has installed a traffic signal device at the intersection of Fort Pickens Road and Pensacola Beach Boulevard/Via de Luna at Pensacola Beach that allows engineers to remotely control the traffic signals.(Photo: Tony Giberson/tgiberson@pnj.com)

"We are doing it in small bites, but we hope to eventually be able to monitor a large chunk of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties from our traffic control center," he said.

Ted McCrary, the chef of Cafe NOLA on the beach, said he hopes the new signal box will help traffic flow through the often-congested area.

"If they are paying attention to it remotely and they can react in real time, I think it could be a big help," said McCrary, who frequently fields complaints from customers who are upset about beach traffic.

County and beach leaders have long struggled with how to deal with bumper-to-bumper traffic on busy beach days. An engineering consultant hired by the county has recommended roundabouts and pedestrian tunnels to improve traffic flow. Engineers are in the middle of designing the changes to determine whether the tunnels and roundabouts are feasible.

In the meantime, Forte said the signal cabinet is a "low-hanging fruit" item that can be done quickly and might make a big difference.

"It's a lot cheaper method to relieve congestion in targeted areas rather than spending millions of dollars adding extra lanes," he said.

The county has also approved plans to add a new beach parking lot adjacent to Casino Beach off Fort Pickens behind the Escambia County Sheriff's Office substation. Forte said the new lot will bring about 88 more parking spaces to the core beach area. Construction is scheduled to start after the 2018 tourism season.

Beach and county leaders are scheduled to take up the tunnel and roundabout plan again this spring, once design engineers are approximately 60 percent finished with the work. Officials have said the project would cost around $20 million.

Melissa Nelson Gabriel can be reached at mnelsongab@pnj.com or 850-426-1431.